Analyzing the Use of the Legal System for Political and Personal Gain
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance (Judiciary, Rule of Law, Constitutionalism); Basic legal concepts (Plea Bargain).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Polity & Governance): Separation of powers; Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries; Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.
General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics): Ethics and Human Interface; Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration; Probity in Governance; Corporate Governance.
Key Highlights from the News
Former US President Donald Trump, like other powerful individuals, uses the legal system not for justice, but as a weapon to achieve personal and political goals.
The "revolving door" phenomenon, where government officials leverage their connections and influence for private sector financial gain, aids this.
Strategies include out-of-court settlements, intimidating opponents, and exploiting loopholes in the law to escape punishment.
Legal principles intended to protect the innocent, such as presumption of innocence and reasonable doubt, are used by lawbreakers to their advantage.
Systems like plea bargains in the American justice system provide more opportunities for this exploitation.
This trend weakens democratic institutions and the fundamental idea of the rule of law.
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